The feasibility of using laser-generated plasmas as VUV continuum sources for photoelectron spectroscopy has been demonstrated by measuring the spectral intensity distribution of the VUV continuum in the wavelength region from 79 to 43 nm by energy analysis of the photoelectrons ejected from argon atoms. The maximum photon flux obtained after reflection at a gold-coated spherical mirror was of the order of 10(11) photons nm(-1) per pulse at 50 nm for a laser energy of 830 mJ. The results show a shift of the emission maximum to lower wavelengths with increasing laser energy.